Wales vs. New Zealand: A Rivalry of Record Extremes
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The rugby rivalry between Wales and New Zealand is one of the sport's most enduring and lopsided contests. While the two nations have shared a pitch over three dozen times since their first meeting in 1905, the narrative is overwhelmingly dominated by the All Blacks. Wales has managed only three victories in their entire Test history against New Zealand, creating a narrative where every Welsh win is an epic piece of folklore, while New Zealand's victories are often defined by their overwhelming magnitude. Analyzing the largest winning margins reveals not only the historical dominance of the All Blacks, but also the enduring and singular significance of the few landmark triumphs achieved by the Welsh Dragon.
| Details | Played | Won by New Zealand |
Won by Wales |
Drawn | New Zealand points | Wales points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In Wales | 22 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 596 | 259 |
| In New Zealand | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 405 | 95 |
| Neutral venue | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 218 | 76 |
| Overall | 37 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 1,219 | 430 |
For Wales, the biggest victory against the All Blacks was a narrow 5-point margin, reflecting the incredible difficulty of achieving a win in this historic fixture. This victory was secured with a final score of Wales 13, New Zealand 8 on December 19, 1953, at the National Stadium in Cardiff. This match is significant as it represents the last time Wales has managed to defeat New Zealand in Test rugby, standing out as one of only three victories in the entire history of the rivalry.
The largest winning margin for New Zealand against Wales showcases the historical dominance of the All Blacks, registering a massive 52-point difference. This record win came on June 21, 2003, at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, where the All Blacks delivered a crushing 55-3 defeat to the Welsh team. The high-scoring nature of this result is indicative of the challenge Wales faces whenever they come up against the formidable New Zealand side.
Most Thrilling & Closest Contest: 2004 (New Zealand 26 – 25 Wales)
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Date: November 20, 2004
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Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
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Significance: This was arguably the closest Wales has come to beating New Zealand since 1953. Wales, the reigning Grand Slam champions, played a sensational match, with the lead changing hands several times.
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The Finish: Wales led deep into the second half, but the All Blacks ultimately snatched victory by a single point in a nerve-wracking final few minutes, demonstrating the incredible pressure the Welsh team put on their opponents.
